SOUTH AFRICA: The Sharpeville Massacre

For a century and a half, blacks in the
Union of South Africa have had to carry passbooks. But it is only in
recent years, under the Boer regime of stubborn, stiff-necked Prime
Minister Hendrik Verwoerd, that the passbook has become almost a
physical shackle.

The pass lists the African's name, birthplace, and tribal affiliation,
contains his picture and serial number, has space for a receipt to
prove that he has paid his taxes and to list his arrests, and unless it
is signed each month by his employer, the African can be...